Going All Cheem (Deep) Again...
Something has been circling in my mind for the longest time this past week.
You know we are having this IMF thingy in our little island this coming 10 days right? I chanced upon an article in the chinese newspaper and thought it was rather insightful. '
The writer wrote about his experience as a guest in China and Hongkong, where his hosts will bring him to have a grand meal of abalone, birdnests, and the like. In their culture, it is normal for the guests to be treated in a royal fashion, and an honourable gesture by the host.
However, when his clients from China or Hong Kong or Taiwan comes over, we locals bring them to hawker centres, Lau Pa Sat, thinking that our guests would appreciate this gesture to show them our local culture and local food. Alot of times, this ain't so. We may think that we are showing them the best of what we have to offer. But they may really want to be treated the same way as they were treated back home, as guests.
Alright, culture is one thing. But as I reflect further, I think I can derive some life's truth from the article.
Sometimes, we give to others what we think is our best to them. We did our best to source for the best and presents it to our guests. But they may not know how to appreciate the gesture, and might even consider ourselves rude for offering what we think is our "best". What if they still prefer the old ways of doing things? The ways thing are done in their culture, their lives or the way that are comfortable with?
What do we do? Do we still shove our "best" to them and expect them to take it anyway? Would we grumble that the recipients are not being appreciative? Would we adjust our "best" to accomodate their "best"?
And how about us as the recipients? I kinda know that most of us Singaporeans are pretty "chin chai" (easy-going in Hokkien). We don't really mind new cultures and new things. But if others present their best to us, and it doesn't sits well with our habits, our fantasy, our hopes, our desires... How do we "accept" it? Would we appreciate the effort made by the giver, or do we just let the gift sit on the top of the shelve to collect dust, ie. indifferent?
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Noticed that I have not blog on GA of late? Cos there are no more dramas already! Woof! is right. It is spiralling down to personal relationships. Abit bland :P
But tonight there was a spark that got me sit up. Chris O'Donnell will be the new love interest to Meredith Grey! :D New things to see. New man, to be precised :D
And George's new love interest... Hmmm... I think she is a lil too large physically for his size... But, she sees him beyond "just George". Well, at least they like each other mutually, so it's good news for George.
Alright, time for bed!
Stupid MSN is down for the night. :S
You know we are having this IMF thingy in our little island this coming 10 days right? I chanced upon an article in the chinese newspaper and thought it was rather insightful. '
The writer wrote about his experience as a guest in China and Hongkong, where his hosts will bring him to have a grand meal of abalone, birdnests, and the like. In their culture, it is normal for the guests to be treated in a royal fashion, and an honourable gesture by the host.
However, when his clients from China or Hong Kong or Taiwan comes over, we locals bring them to hawker centres, Lau Pa Sat, thinking that our guests would appreciate this gesture to show them our local culture and local food. Alot of times, this ain't so. We may think that we are showing them the best of what we have to offer. But they may really want to be treated the same way as they were treated back home, as guests.
Alright, culture is one thing. But as I reflect further, I think I can derive some life's truth from the article.
Sometimes, we give to others what we think is our best to them. We did our best to source for the best and presents it to our guests. But they may not know how to appreciate the gesture, and might even consider ourselves rude for offering what we think is our "best". What if they still prefer the old ways of doing things? The ways thing are done in their culture, their lives or the way that are comfortable with?
What do we do? Do we still shove our "best" to them and expect them to take it anyway? Would we grumble that the recipients are not being appreciative? Would we adjust our "best" to accomodate their "best"?
And how about us as the recipients? I kinda know that most of us Singaporeans are pretty "chin chai" (easy-going in Hokkien). We don't really mind new cultures and new things. But if others present their best to us, and it doesn't sits well with our habits, our fantasy, our hopes, our desires... How do we "accept" it? Would we appreciate the effort made by the giver, or do we just let the gift sit on the top of the shelve to collect dust, ie. indifferent?
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Noticed that I have not blog on GA of late? Cos there are no more dramas already! Woof! is right. It is spiralling down to personal relationships. Abit bland :P
But tonight there was a spark that got me sit up. Chris O'Donnell will be the new love interest to Meredith Grey! :D New things to see. New man, to be precised :D
And George's new love interest... Hmmm... I think she is a lil too large physically for his size... But, she sees him beyond "just George". Well, at least they like each other mutually, so it's good news for George.
Alright, time for bed!
Stupid MSN is down for the night. :S
2 Comments:
George's new love interest really does the opposite of grow on you... the more you see of her, the more you realise how big sized and crude she is compared to the others.. :D
Try this other series called House.. I think it's fantastic!
Oh yeah, that one. I caught it on Star World, I think... I do think that one is a little quirky compared to the GA now... We'll see :)
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